Improvement in self-closing faucets



W.|L BATE.

Slf-Glsing Faucets.

Patented August 26,1873.

UNITED 4|rA'rE/s WALLACE BATE, OF CHARLESTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-CLOSING FAUFCETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,192, dated August 26, 1873; application filed June 9, 1873.

To all whom fit may concern:

Beit known that I, WALLACE H. BATE, of

Charlestown, in the county of Middlesex andV the spindle is raised to open the outlet-passage by means of cams or inclines as heretofore constructed is objectionable on account of the difficulty and cost of manufacture and the liability of their getting out of order.

To provide a cheap and durable faucetv of this class is the object of my invention, which consists in a sleeve surrounding the spindle, and provided with one or more arms on its lower end, and with one or more friction-rolls moving on one or 'more inclines, whereby the sleeve is raised by turning the handle, thus lifting the spindle connected therewith against the resistance of a spring, and opening the valve as required; and my invention also consists in a modification in which the sleeve is dispensed with, and the arms project directly from the outside of the lower end of the spindle, the friction roll or rolls being secured to th arms, or to the cap at the top of the casing, or to both.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A is `the casing of the faucet, over which is screwed the cap B, the upper surface of which is provided with four inclines, a b c d, of corresponding size and form, upon which move a pair of frictionrolls, C, revolving in bearings within arms or lugs D projecting from the outside of the lower end ofthe sleeve E surrounding a spindle, Gr, the top of which is provided with a handle, H, up through the center of which projects the top ofthe spindle, provided with a screw-thread, c, for the reception of a screw with a washer, h, interposed, by which construction, as the handle of the sleeve is turned, the friction-rolls ascend their inclines, and the spindle is raised against the resistance of `a spiral spring, I, surrounding it, and confined between an enlargement, i, at its lower end, and the under side of the cap or cover of .the casing A. k is a leather valve, beveled inward on its outer edge, and secured to a circular plug, l, which is loosely pivoted to the enlargement i at the lower end of the spindle, so as to swivel freely thereon. m m

are stops at the junction of the tops of two contiguous inclines, c b or c d, whereby the inadvertent closing of the valve is prevented when it is desired to remain open, and which would occur were no stops provided, and the sleeve be turned too far in one direction or beyond the top of an incline.

From the foregoing construction it will be seen that when the valve is closed and the handle is turned in either direction, the friction-wheels move up their inclines and lift the spindle against the resistance of the spring, thus opening the valve, as required. On ceasing to exert a pressure on the handle, the force of the spring causes the frictionwheels to roll down their inclines, thereby bringing the valve down upon its seat and shutting off the water.

Where a pair of double inclines are employed, as above described, and as shown in Fig. l, the spindle may be turned in either direction to open "the faucet without the liability of straining the handle, which otherwise might occur were the power applied to turn it in the wron g direction.

It is evident that. the sleeve may be dispensed with, and one or more arms with one or more friction-wheels be secured directly to the lower end of the spindle, as seen in Fig. 3; but in this case the spindle would be obliged to turn with the handlewhile raising the valve from its seat instead of rising vertically. I therefore prefer the construction first described.

One or more friction-wheels, instead of being hung in the arms, whether attached to the sleeve or to the spindle, may be placed 011 the upper surface ofthe cap, Fig. 4, and the arms be made to rise upon them; or the surface of the incline or inclines, instead of sloping gradually in a straight line from top to bottom, may be either ot a convex or concave curva# ture; and, if desired, the friction-Wheels may be omitted Where four inclines are employed Without departing from the spirit of my in.- vention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent, isi The sleeve E, having one or more arms, D,

WALLACE H. BATE.

In presence 0f- N. W. STEARNS, W. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

